Chapter 22

After getting back to the apartment, I’d barely set down my things before my phone began to ring. I groaned, not having the patience for any human interaction. It didn’t help that the plane ride home had left me exhausted.

With a sigh, I grabbed it from out of my bag. I barely registered the name on the screen before I thoughtlessly picked up the call.

“Hello?” I said, dropping my keys on the counter. I hurried over to the kitchen and opened the fridge. “This is Evie.”

“Hi, Evie,” Timothy’s voice came through and I nearly dropped the bottle of fruit juice I had grabbed.

I placed the container on the counter and cleared my throat. “Timothy. Hi.”

“Sorry, this is sudden. Considering I just saw you,” he said with a laugh. “I was wondering if you had time this week to discuss the case a bit further?”

“Of course.” I grabbed a glass from the pantry and filled it up with the juice. “Just give me a time, and I’ll likely be free.””

He hummed thoughtfully. “Tonight at four sound good? At the firm?”

“Sounds perfect.” I took a sip of my juice and cringed at how squeaky my voice had sounded.

“Great,” he said, then there was a pause. It seemed neither of us was ready to hang up, at least immediately.

Finally, I spoke up, taking advantage of the silence. “Thank you, by the way.”

“Hm?”

“For yesterday. With my panic attack…you helped a lot.”

I couldn’t see his face, but I could envision the smile that he had grown just based on his tone. “It was no problem,” he said gently.

My grip tightened on my phone and I pressed it closer to my ear. “I’ll talk to you later.”

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Chapter 22

good rest of your day,” he

and pulled my knees. to my chin. I had just

and another text from Bruce flashed across the

ignore me, Coco. I’m playing nice for now, but don’t

those pixelated words sat on my screen. There had been several others he sent before that. One of them had come

lovely today,

bad reception and all, but it’d

Coco. I’m not

poised over the screen. Part of me wanted to respond and tell him to back off, but the other saw an even worse reaction from

that way.

the phone off and clutched it to my chest, steadying my breaths as they grew shallower. Even from afar, Bruce managed to make me

to consume me, with every twisted fiber of

at my door. The sound alone. made me jump and drop my cellphone. It seemed far–fetched, but I had my suspicions that

hauled myself up and made my way over to the front door. I took a quick

man on the other side. There was barely any time–to

Get

Wed, 20

Chapter 22

being blinded by a bright

my eyes and stumbled backward, barely catching myself on the wall. It takes a few blinks before the man is clear again, this time with a whole crowd

dangling from his neck

‘Evie‘ specifically?” I

woman Timothy apologized to. We’ve been looking around trying to find her, but some guy was generous enough to

feel my head starting to spin, having all those eyes watching me from my doorstep.

set

camping

that other news station’s going to get

can’t be serious!” I cried out.

on!” The man leaned toward me, his camera now trained on my face like. an invasive eye. “Show

he could get any closer, then locked the door. for security. I knew the press was fierce when it came to a good story, but this was

passed with me walking around the apartment, trying to find something to do with myself. Any distraction was welcome, whether it was cleaning or folding laundry. The time eventually came

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Chapter 22

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